feeding a fussy dog

mandy_moo_1 · 31 December 2006 at 10:10PM

Hi

Not sure if this is in the right thread ( sorry if it isn't) but does anyone have any ideas what i can feed my 5month old Yorkie? What she eats wouldn't keep a mouse alive!

At the moment i'm giving her dried puppy biscuits mixed with a spoonful of cooked mince, but she only seems to eat every couple of days!

If i can do this right, here's a pic of her....she's called Ruby

http://i16.tinypic.com/351g9ea.jpg

oh...tried to put pic in the msg, but i don't know how!!!

lil_me · 31 December 2006 at 10:18PM

Awww what a sweet little dog

Anyway dog, back to the point, have you checked her weight and the recommended amounts from what you are feeding her ? Have to remember in toy size dogs the stomach is only small, can't take huge amounts.

Secondly I would stop the mince, giving in makes them more fussy, if she is eating that then she is maybe not getting the right balance in the tiny tummy she has. Complete foods usually in neutral colour (unlike ones full of additional colouring which look nice but make them hyper) which reduces selective feeding, my dog would pick out the meaty bits when he was on the multi foods, crafty sod!

Place it on the floor. Leave the dog to it then after 10 minutes remove the food. Do not allow the dog to have a buffet, they will soon work out that food is a limited time offer and will learn to eat up. The dog will not starve itself.

Cod liver oil is something you can add which dogs can rarely resist, and withdraw it gradually. Moisten the food with warm water if she needs it, but dried food is better for the teeth.

My dog was fussy, then I realised it was me giving in all the time. Now have the oldest on the cheap working dog food which he thrives on, puppy on puppy food until she is allowed it but she tries to steal it.

DPs Dad trains dogs and when I mentioned to him about mine he said 'It's you not the dog, a dog wouldn't starve itself unless it was ill' that kicked my backside into stopping giving in to me being a softy and him playing on my nice nature.

Make sure she is still drinking, if she stops all together might be worth getting a vet to check her over, for your own peace of mind.

mandy_moo_1 · 31 December 2006 at 10:28PM

she drinks plenty and she has loads of energy (i take her for a 2mile walk every day with my other dog)

its just she never seems all that bothered about food! i've been giving her the Baker's puppy biscuits, and she'll eat maybe 1/2 dozen biscuits, and about a tsp mince once a day

CFC · 1 January 2007 at 12:39AM

My dog (passed on now) was the very devil when it came to feeding him. He just wouldn't eat. I tried the 'eat it or starve' approach and after he had eaten nothing for 3 days I gave in. I am prepared to be open to the idea that if I'd kept it up for a week, he would have eaten it, but I honestly think that he wouldn't - he was already quite thin, and I think 3 days of no food (and no snacks) would have made him eat if he was going to.

I ended up having to cook chicken or hearts for him and mix it with dog meal. Even that, he wouldnt' always eat - sometimes he ate nothing for a day or so. Sometimes I was reduced to making him a cheese sandwich and hand feeding it to him, and not all the sandwich would even go in. Doggie meal times were a heartache for both of us at times, we were both very clearly miserable.

I never found out what the problem was as he was generally healthy, except it did turn out he was prone to eczema and allergic to dust etc., so possibly there were times when he just wasn't feeling top form, and that's why he didn't fancy anything.

lil_me · 1 January 2007 at 1:16AM

Bakers is full of colourings, been advised not to give that to mine.

My dog will only totally refuse to eat if he's distressed, he lost weight when in kennels this year, but thats all. Took almost a week when I changed his food but once he realised it was that or nothing he ave up. Sometimes doesn't eat one day but does the next, but I do that aswell so know how he feels.

I think if my dog had serious issues feeding I would consult the vet, but at the minute he's a hoover! He'll eat anything. If she isn't without energy and is still drinking then clearly she must be getting enough energy from somewhere. Try not to worry too much

Dumyat · 1 January 2007 at 8:40AM

our dog isnt a fussy eater as such. but some days she will hardly eat then other days she is begging to be fed! she gets fed the same time every day. she is not overweight or too thin. and has loads of energy. at first I used to worry about the days she wouldnt eat, but now I just leave her to it. I put the bowl down - if she doesnt want it well thats fine. she's 8 now.

your dog looks gorgeous. I'd imagine a dog that size probably wouldnt take much feeding anyway. if it has a healthy coat, lots of energy and drinking I wouldnt be too concerned but maybe worth a wee check up at the vet.

K9cuddles · 1 January 2007 at 10:37AM

I would recommend a good complete food.. say clear of Iams.. All our pups are on Science Plan until 2 years old. As said put the bowl down for a limited time then pick it back up eatten or not.

Some of our older dogs will miss a meal every now and again, that's natural it goes back to there instinct of not having food regulary when they used to hunt!

At 5 months she should be on 2 meals a day until 6 months. I imagine Yorkie tummies are tiny so you might need to check this for the breed. Have you contacted the breeder for any advice?

davsidipp · 1 January 2007 at 10:50AM

i give my 2 jack russells winalot casserole selection which does not smell too bad i might add and wagg complete clean bowls every time and the little one was a fussy eater up until now .

Bossyboots · 1 January 2007 at 10:53AM

Yorkie pups should be fed three times a day, gradually bringing it down to twice or even once a day. They don't eat much but they will run rings around you if you let them start to dictate what they will and won't eat (fell for it myself so I do know what it is like).

Despite what veterinary advice says about changing their food, our Yorkies liked their brand changed on a fairly regular basis with no ill effects. The one they really stuck with though was Bakers and we would get through three or four of these bags, switch to something else briefly and then go back to Bakers. Make sure you stick to the small breed size brands of dried foods as the pieces are much smaller.

Becles · 1 January 2007 at 11:33AM

Just experiment with all the brands and see what the dog will eat.

My existing collie had been fed on Pal dried food for years (she eats anything!), so I weaned my collie pup onto it too when he was ready. However a few months back, Pal changed the recipe and Bob refused to eat the "new and improved" version :rolleyes:

I've been through loads of brands of dog foods, but the only one he'll clear his bowl within 10 minutes with is Bakers. I know people slag it off, but it's the one he appears to like best, so I'm keeping him on that. It hasn't done him any harm in that he's still fit and active and looks healthy enough, but it wouldn't have been my first choice of food.

mandy_moo_1 · 1 January 2007 at 11:57AM

thanx for all your answers. She DOES have loads of energy, so i guess i'm just a worrywart!

I'm so used to my other dog cleaning the bowl every time she eats, i expect Ruby to be like that too.

I'll have a walk down to the vets in the morning and see what complete foods they recommend.........then i'll walk straight down to the pet shop and get it there, cos he's loads cheaper!!

I'll try that Winalot casserole one as well.....was gonna give Cesar a go as well....i'll let you know how we get on

feeding a fussy dog

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